Shanghai, China, December 10, 2024 – Shanghai Immunocan Biotech Co., Ltd. (“Immunocan”) today announced that it has entered into agreement with Bayer. Immunocan will join Bayer Co.Lab in China as a resident company, harnessing Bayer’s extensive innovation and collaboration network to access worldwide resources and expertise, for accelerating global expansion of Immunocan’s gene-edited animal-based antibody discovery platform.
Dr. Jiwei Zhang, Co-founder and CEO of Immunocan, said: “We are thrilled to join Bayer Co.Lab and embark on a new chapter in global innovation ecosystem collaboration. Over the past four years, we have successfully established mega-base-scale gene-editing technology and developed multiple antibody discovery models in Shanghai, earning the trust and recognition of numerous partners. By joining Bayer Co.Lab today, we believe the scientific collaboration and operational empowerment enabled by Bayer’s global life science co-creation platform will help Immunocan continuously accelerate innovation, expand technological partnerships, and realize our vision of self-growth and driving industry innovation within the global innovation network. ”
“We warmly welcome Immunocan to our vibrant Bayer Co.Lab community,” said Friedemann Janus, PhD, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Bayer Co.Lab, Regional Business Development & Licensing and Divestitures at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. “Our newly inaugurated site in China is quickly becoming a cornerstone for collaboration within the country's innovation ecosystem. Our global life science incubator network, Bayer Co.Lab, is committed to providing customized support that will nurture the growth and success of local biotech startups, especially as we observe an exciting wave of innovations in China.”
About Immunocan
Immunocan was founded in 2020 and specializes in using gene editing technology to replace immunoglobulin variable region genes in various animals, resulting in genetically engineered animals capable of producing fully human antibodies and other innovative modalities. The company is committed to offering cutting-edge antibody discovery platforms to worldwide drug research partners, with the goal of developing safer and more effective treatments for human diseases.
About Bayer Co.Lab
Bayer Co.Lab inaugurated its new site in China this September as part of its global network of life sciences incubators. Bayer Co.Lab not only provides resident companies the state-of-the-art infrastructure and lab space but also grants access to Bayer’s global R&D network and expertise, helping biotech startups connect with resources in the global pharmaceutical industry. In China, Bayer Co.Lab aims to empower local biotech startups with a focus on cutting-edge innovations in the areas of CGT, oncology and new technology platforms. Following the inauguration of its new site in Berlin this November, Bayer Co.Lab has expanded to global innovation hubs, including United States, Japan, China, and Germany, dedicated to supporting local startups in accelerating their innovations.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.